LEADING British MPs, writers, trade unionists, and peace campaigners have spoken out against the war on Venezuela amid increasingly threatening military manoeuvres by US President Donald Trump.

In a statement initiated by the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign, MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Richard Burgon and trade union general secretaries Gawain Little (GFTU), Daniel Kebede (NEU) and Maryam Eslamdoust (TSSA) warned that US military intervention could mark the start of a wider regional escalation under Mr Trump’s leadership.

The statement, also backed by Britain’s leading anti-war organisations, CND and the Stop the War Coalition, writer Tariq Ali, Morning Star editor Ben Chacko and Jess Barnard of Labour’s national executive, said: “In recent weeks, a huge US naval fleet — including warships, bombers, and thousands of troops — has been deployed to the Caribbean, off Venezuela’s coast.

“Trump has publicly confirmed that he has authorised the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela.

“Already, US strikes on Venezuelan small boats — under the pretext of a so-called ‘war on drugs’ — have killed dozens of civilians.

“Now, Trump has ominously warned that ‘the land is going to be next’.”

The statement said the escalation follows a long history of US interference in Latin America, “where so-called ‘regime change’ operations have caused immense suffering and lasting harm.”

It added: “Leaders across Latin America have already voiced strong opposition to this military build-up and any foreign intervention.”

“We reject this dangerous escalation and call on all who stand for peace to say clearly: No to Trump’s war on Venezuela.”

Signatures from across the labour, peace and progressive movements continue to be added, with a wider list of supporters to be released in the coming days.

Add your name to the call online: bit.ly/NoTrumpWarOnVenezuela